Fuze



April 26, 1960 F. R. sEAvEY 2,934,018

FUZE

F-iled Aug. 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f l J /f Inni 2l f1) vmmmv 1 III @is M $2 m 6 q q 7 5 If 5N n I N V EN TOR. @som/CK E. Sam/f y BY A from/Er April 26, 1960 Filed Aug. 27, 1958 F. R. SEAVEY FUzE 2 Sheets-,Sheet 2 FIGB gm (lf l5 lg La 5 7 7 Q q s INVENTOR. @EMR/K Jmvfr BY A T70 RNEY FUZE Frederick R. sem/ey, Anon, 111., assigner to ouin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, East Alton, lli., :i corpora tion of Virginia Application August 27, 19458, Serial No. 757,568 3 Claims. (Cl. 102-73) This invention relates to an actuating device for explosive cartridges and more particularly to a uze for a missile which initiates an explosive charge regardless of the position in which the missile strikes.

The ordinary type of fuze is designed so that it will act upon impact whereupon an explosive charge is initiated by a firing pin constrained to axial movement within the fuze. Heretofore, various types of inertia devices have been employed to drive the tiring pin into the explosive, which generally, also have been constrained to axial motion within the fuze. Such fuzes which depend upon axially' constrained moving mechanisms often result in misres when the missiles strike upon objects at acute angles or on their side. Since it is often essential that the missile explode on contact, it is necessary that the translating inertia mechanism drive the ring pin into the explosives primer or priming charge irrespective of the di rection of impact.

Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide a novel actuating mechanism which is responsive to fluctuations of motion.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel fuse of the all-ways type.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel lfuze which is operative on impact regardless of the direction of striking upon an object.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel fuze for a missile which is dependable in operation irrespective of the angle of impact of the missile upon an object.

It is also the object of this invention to provide a novel fuze for a missile or projectile which has a minimum of components easily assembled, and which is simple in operation. i

Brielly speaking, the above objects and other objects of this invention are accomplished by providing in a motion actuated assembly a floating member whose inertia translates iiuctuations in motion, to pivot at least one of a plurality of levers from a dormant, through an actuating cycle, to an actuated position. The above is Aaccomplished by an assembly which comprises a plurality of levers pivotally mounted at an intermediate portion of their length about a common axis for movement in planes parallel to the aforesaid axis, which outer portions, of the levers, are biiurcated into upper and lower elements. The Upper elements are engaged within an annular groove of a tloating element, or weight, having a portion adiacent the groove adapted to rest on the inner portion ofthe aforesaid levers. A shouldered, `or flanged, driven member, such as a tiring pin, is provided for axial movement along the aforesaid axis and is urged into a l dormant position by resilient means, wherein the upper surfacevot said iiange abuts the lower surface of the inner portions of said levers. This mechanism is carried on a base which also limits the outside swing of said levers under the action of the yresilient meansj A detona- ,tof ,is mounted below the .firing ,Pin and `@darned to he initiated thereby. The detonator may be carried on a Vicc non-symmetric rotor which may be held in a safe position by centrifugally actuated locks, and is adapted to rotate under centrifugal or spring action into an armed position below the tiring pin. The structure may be incorporated into any explosive missile.

In operation of this fuz'e, the floating member, or weight, upon impact of the projectile in any direction will pivot at least one of the levers against the ange of the tiring pin to drive it into the detonator. When the projectile impacts upon an object at any angle where the inertia of the floating member tends to drive it to the bottom of the fuze, the floating member will urge the inner portion of the levers against the iiange of the tiring pin to drive the pin into the detonator. When the profjectile strikes atan angle or position where the inertia of the oating member tends to drive it to the top or the side of the fuze, the member will, in eect, pull on the upper bifurcated element of at least one of the levers to pivot it against the flange of the ring pinto drive the pin into the detonator. The direction in which inertia will drive the oating weight, relative to the fuze, will be resultant of the direction of travel and the angle of impact of the projectile. irrespective of the direction of movement of the iioating weight, relative to the fuze, either normal to the axis, transverse to the axis of said fuze and/or angular to the axis of said uze at least one of the levers Will be pivoted to depress the tiring pin into the primer.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

Figure l is a cross-sectional view in elevation illustrating an embodiment of this invention in the armed position;

Figure 2 is a view taken along lines lL-II of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an elevational view illustrating the position of the portion of the elements of Figure l after impact of the projectile upon an object in a direction parallel to the axis of said fuze driving the oating member toward a detonator;

Figure 4 is an elevational view illustrating the position of the portion of the elements of Figure 1 after impact of the missile upon an object in a direction parallel to the axis of said fuze driving the oating member, or weight, away from the deonator; and

Figure 5 is an elevational view illustrating the position of the portion of the elements of Figure 1 after impact of the missile upon an object in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said fuze driving the iloating member, or weight, to the side of the fuze.

Referring to the drawings, a base 1 is provided with a bore 2 and an aperture 3 communicating with the aforesaid bore, and has extending from its perimeter a radial ange 23. A plurality of vertical and radial slots 4 are provided in the upper portion of base 1 in communicating relationship with bore 2. Mounted within each of the slots 4 is a lever 5 which is pivoted about an intermediate portion of its length on pin 6. In the embodiment shown, the outer portions are bifurcated into an upper element '7 and a lower element 8, the lower element limiting the swing of the lever by Contact against the bottom of slot 4. The inner or nose portions 9 of levers 5 are stepped from the bottom of the levers and extend over bore 2 into which they are pivoted upon actuation of the levers.

The upper biturcated element 7 is engaged within an annular groove 19 in the bottom surface of a relatively massive oating member, or weight, 11 provided with a large axial opening 12. Groove 10 is of arcuate conguration, the cross-section of which terminates at a vertical wall 13 provided at the bottom with an inwardly projecting lip 14. congnration provides, in effect, a collar for engagement of member 11 about the ends of elements 7, and permits rela'tive movement of ends 7 therein. The portion 15 of member 11, between groove and' opening 12, is adapted to rest or to be in close proximity to the top of the inner portions 9 of levers 5. In Figure 1, portion of floating member 11 is shown to be raised above the top of inner portion 9 to merely emphasize the engagement of the upper bifurcated element 7 within groove l1i).

As illustrated, annular portion 15 is shown to be recessed relative to lip 14, however, it will be understood that the coniiguration of levers 5 and ilo-ating member 11 may be widely varied within the scope of this invention. For example, levers 5 may be lengthened, shortened, lowered in height and/or pivoted at any portion within slots 4 of base 1. Accordingly, levers 5 may be of narrow elongated form and pivoted at their point of bifurcation near the top of slots 4. With this contiguration, of levers 5, the inner portion 1S of member 11 will extend below lip 14.

In operation of the assembly, movement of member 11 in any direction, except toward base 1, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the member will exert a pulling or pushing action on the upper bifurcated element 7 to pivot the inner portions 9 downwardly into bore 2 of base 1. Movement of member 11 in downward direction which brings it closer to base 1, as in Figure 3, will force the annular portion 15 of the member against the top of the inner portions 9 to depress them downwardly into bore 2 of base 1. Where this latter motion not only brings member 11 closer to base 1, but also moves the member to the side, such action not only causes annular portion 15 to depress the inner portions 9, but in addition, will cause the wall 13 of groove 10 to push in on the end of the upper bifurcated element 7, of some of the members, to pivot their inner portions downwardly into bore 2 of base 1. Movement of member 11 in any direction which may be a combination of the above rotational or other will cause other variations, of the above moments, in the actuation of levers 5. The movement of floating member 11 is limited only by the limits in the swings of levers 5 as the result of engagement thereon.

Extending through openings 12 of oating member 11 is an actuator, or tiring pin, 16 pivoted about an intermediate portion of its length with a shoulder, or collar, 17 for sliding engagement within bore 2 of base 1. The upper surface of collar 17 is urged against inner portions 9 of levers S by a resilient means, such as a helical spring 18, provided about the lower portion of actuator 16 in bore 2. Spring 18, through collar 17, urges levers 5 to be pivoted outwardly, and to maintain point 19 of actuator 16 above the lower surface of base 1 in passage 3.

The above described assembly is protected by a cupped cylindrical shell 2i) having an inwardly extending boss 21 containing a recess 22 for sliding engagement about the end of actuator 16. Shell is attached in sealing engagement of base 1 against flange 23.

The lower surface of base 1 is provided with a bore 24 having recess 2S in the bottom thereof for receiving a pivot pin 26. A conventional centrifugal, non-concentric arming rotor 29 is rotatably mounted on pin 26 and carries a detonator 27 in an opening 28. Rotor 29 may be retained in the unarmed position by conventional centrifugally actuated locks, not shown, and is adapted under the action of centrifugal force to rotate detonator 2-7 into alignment below passage 3 and actuator 16. Rotor 29 may be also pivoted with a detent hole 3) for engagement by actuator 16 if centrifugally actuated locks are desired to be employed to depress member 11 against the tloating member 11 to maintain it depressed against levers 5, thereby holding point 19 of actuator 16 in detent hole 30 to detent the holder in the unarmed position. A helical friction spring 35 is mounted in compression about pivot pin 26, between base 1 and rotor 29, in bore 24 to insure against accidental movement of "1 otor29.4 will be understood, rotor 29 need 'not be employed since detonator 28 may be fixedly mounted below passage 3 for engagement and initiation by actuator 16. f

The rotor in the lower surface of base 1 is protected by a bottom cupped cylindrical shell 31 which is attached in sealing engagement to base 1 against ilange 23. Shell 3-1 is provided with an opening 32, in which pin 26 is rotatably mounted, and with a passage 33 having mounted therein an appropriate lead 34.

The fuze may be incorporated into various missiles and grenades. Forexample, as a base fuze or, by appropriate shaping of shell 20 as a nose fuze in rotating projectiles. The fuze is also intended for incorporation into various aerial bombs and incendiary devices. Irrespective of the direction of impact of the missiles upon an object, the above motion of floating member 11 will initiate the explosives contained in the projectile.

Although the invention has been described with reference to explosive devices, the invention has other applications, for example, in the detection of variations from a desired uniform motion, such as accelerations or decelerations. As an illustration, modifications within the scope of the invention permit the use of the invention in automatic clothes washers to detect an unbalanced load during a spinning cycle wherein it will function as an actuator to energize an appropriate electrical solenoid to stop the operation of the machine. For utilization in such application, detonators 28 and lead 34- are substituted by an insulated electrical contact plate or point which is connected to a source of electrical energy. Actuator 16 forms part of the circuit by grounding to the assembly, which in turn is connected in an electrical circuit. By selection of a spring 18 having suitable constants, the point at which the assembly is actuated can be controlled.

In operation the invention is mounted to the automatic washer and placed into the electrical circuit, controlling the operation of the washer, by a timing device during the spinning cycle. As long as the clothes, contained in the washer, are evenly distributed during the spinning cycle, with the variation of distribution permitted by spring 18, the movement of floating member 11 will be insufficient to lcause pivoting of levers 5 to depress actuator 16. However, when the load is unbalanced, during the spinning cycle, the washer will vibrate sufficiently to cause the inertia of member 11 to pivot at least one of the levers 5 to depress actuator 16 against the insulated electrical contact plate, substituted for 27 and lead 34, to complete an electrical circuit. This closed circuit may be employed to energize a solenoid to open an electrical switch supplying energy to the washer thereby stopping its operation.

Although the invention has been described with reference to speciiic embodiments, materials and details, various modifications and changes will be apparent to one skilled in the art and are contemplated to be embraced within the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A fuze comprising a fuze body containing a sensitive explosive device, a tiring pin in alignment with and separated from said explosive device, a radially extending flange on the tiring pin, a plurality of levers mounted in said fuze body about the tiring pin for movement in planes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the firing pin, each of said levers movable about a pivot point intermediate its end, that portion of each lever radially internal to the pivot points terminating in internal ends positioned above the flange on the firing pin, that portion of each lever radially external to the pivot points terminating in upper and lower bifurcated ends, and a circular floating member normally in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tiring pin 'and having a reverse peripheral llange, a central portion of the floating member normally contacting the levers at a point intermediate their internal ends and their pivot points, the ange on the oating member and the bifurcated ends of the levers being in interdigital relationship.

2. A fuze comprising a fuze body containing a sensitive explosive device, a iring pin in alignment with the explosive device, resilient means separating the firing pin and the explosive device, the firing pin having a shaft of non-uniform thickness terminating in a point at one end, a plurality of levers radially and pivotally mounted in the fuze body for movement in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the firing pin, pivot points intermediate the ends of the levers, that portion of each lever radially internal to the pivot points terminating in an internal end contacting the tiring pin, that portion of each of the levers radially external to -the pivot points terminating in upper and lower bifurcated ends, and a substantially at circular member substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tiring pin and being provided with an axially extending peripheral flange having an inward extension, a central portion of the circular member normally contacting the levers at a point intermediate their internal ends and their pivot points, and the inward extension on the circular'member and the bifurcated external ends of the levers being in interdigital relationship.

3. A fuze body containing a firing pin, a sensitive explosive device in alignment with the firing pin, a plurality of levers radially mounted in tbe fuze body about the ring pin by pivot points intermediate their ends for movement in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the firing pin, the inner ends of the levers contacting the iiring pin andthe outer ends of the levers being bifurcated, and a circular member normally in a plane 'substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tiring pin and having a reverse peripheral ange, a central portion of the circular member contacting the levers proximate their inner ends, and the flange on the circular member and the bifurcated ends of the levers being in interdigital relationship.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 988,610 Wieser Apr. 4, -1911 1,234,713 Asbury July 3l', 1917 1,322,521 Bifl Nov. 25, 1919 2,014,393 Mathsen Sept. 17, 1935 2,666,389 Cooper Jan. 19, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 54,961 Sweden July 4, 1923 113,758 Switzerland Feb. 16, 1926 967,193 France Mar. 22, 1950 

